January 26, 2006

Dean on Today Show

In case you missed it...

On domestic spying: "Democrats the support the idea that you have to spy on terrorists. We support the idea that you need to eavesdrop from time to time but we also believe the president ought to obey the law. ... This is not simply a listening to al Qaeda this is poking around into people's private lives."

More: "I don't know why the president is doing this. We all believe that you spy on al Qaeda but we don't believe you shouldn't spy on American citizens without some third party looking at this. That's what makes the difference between countries like America and Iran, where the government can do anything they damn well please. ... The president is breaking the law. There's no need for it. ... It's a bad example for our kids for the president to insist that it's okay for him to blame the law."

Asked why there's no co-operation on the issue: "The president isn't interested in hearing from anybody else. He's not only not interested in listening to Democrats -- I can understand that we're the opposition party -- but he's not interesting in listening to the military. ... He wouldn't even listen to his own Secretary of State Colin Powell. This is a head-strong president who thinks he's above the law. We don't think that's right. ... If we get back in power we're going to make a real effort to get Osama bin Laden. We're not going to let him lolly around for four years. ... We're going to do a lot better job on national security than this president is doing."

Asked to describe what the Dem Party stands for in 30 seconds: "One: American jobs that will stay in America, using energy independence to generate those jobs. Two: a strong national defense based on telling the truth to our citizens, our soldiers and our allies. Three: Honesty and integrity to be restored to government. Four: A health care system that works for everybody just like they have in 36 other countries. Five: a strong public education system so we can optimism and opportunity back in America."

NBC's Couric: "Thank you for staying in the 30 second time frame."

Asked about a Hillary Clinton WH run: "I'm sure she's not thinking about the presidency right now. I don't comment on '08 since I'm going to have to referee in that one."

On Jack Abramoff: "Not one dime of money from Jack Abramoff went to any Democrat. ... We can show you the FEC reports. We're very happy to do it. There's been a lot of stuff in the press. The Republican National Committee has been spinning this has been a bipartisan scandal. This is Republican-financed scandal" (NBC, 1/26).

Posted at 02:34 PM

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